Exodus Types: 6a. The Tabernacle In the Wilderness, A Manifold Type of Christ and His Church

(Exodus 25-40) God had a detailed plan for making the Tabernacle; and He has a plan for the life of every member of His Church. "And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount" (Exodus 25:40). The plans for the construction of the Tabernacle were given to Moses on Mount Sinai, and Moses saw to it that they were carried out in the building and making of it. Concerning God’s plan for our lives, Paul has this to say: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained [or planned] that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). Since God has a plan for our lives, how important that we find out what His plan is, and then proceed to carry it out! The Tabernacle was a type of God’s presence with His people of Israel and with Christians today. "And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them" (Exodus 25:8). The Tabernacle was always placed in the center of Israel’s camp, and there in the heart of His people’s dwelling-place, God was present, in His sanctuary. The Church is God’s sanctuary now. "In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:22). God dwells in the heart of His Church through His Spirit. The tabernacle was a picture of Jesus Christ and His salvation. "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). The word dwelt is rendered "tabernacled" in the margin. When He was here on earth, Jesus was tabernacling among us. He was fulfilling many of the types which we find so interesting in the Tabernacle in the wilderness. Thus we see Him and His salvation pictured plainly in many of the details of that Tabernacle. The Israelites gave material for the Tabernacle in the spirit Christians should give to God’s work in these modern times. "And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and everyone whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments" (Exodus 35:21). "The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the Lord had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses" (Exodus 35:29). "And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the Lord commanded to make" (Exodus 36:5). [Old Testament Types - FHW]